One year ago today, I was laying in bed trying to figure out how to start a food blog. I knew I had a lot to share, but couldn't tell you the first thing about how to write on a website (let alone build one). I headed over to wordpress.com, signed up for a free, basic blog and just started writing. It was no frills, but for whatever reason, you followed and supported me. Now, I sit here, a full year later and so much has changed with Everything Erica. My once plain white blog with pink polka ... [ Read More ]
Guilt Free Peanut Butter & Chocolate Balls (No Bake)
Lately, my sweet tooth has gotten out of control. With my wedding on the horizon, I simply can not succumb to my usual scoop of ice cream or fresh baked cookie after dinner. Honestly, the thought of cutting out sweets gives me a major panic attack. That's why I called up my gorgeous friend Tiffany. This chic has a huge sweet tooth, but somehow manages to look like a sports illustrated super model (if you think I'm kidding, check her out). I asked her how she stays so fit while still ... [ Read More ]
Crispy Brussels Sprouts w/ Sweet Chili Dressing
Nothing tastes better than crispy brussels sprouts! When done properly, this vegetable takes on a yummy and nutty flavor that is totally crave-able. On top of their delicious taste, brussels sprouts are packed with vitamin C and can even help lower your cholesterol. Lately, I've been seeing a lot of crispy brussels sprout salads on menu's across the country. The sad part, most of them are fried, which essentially strips away any of those nutritional benefits I just mentioned. That's why ... [ Read More ]
A Fun Way to “Break the News” (Unique Save the Dates)
When the wedding planning begun, I felt like I had a lot to live up to. In my eyes, I had one of the coolest proposals of all time (my fiancé put a ring inside of an egg and I cracked it while I as cooking). It was literally perfect for me! I knew I wanted to continue that momentum and do something so incredibly cool for all aspects of my weddings. That had to start with the first element of any wedding, the Save the Dates. When I started the wedding planning, I was told that Save the ... [ Read More ]
5 Unique Uses for Pumpkin This Fall
Every fall, we see the grocery store shelves fill up with loads of pumpkin purée so that everyone can make a pumpkin pie. Well, I'm here to tell you that their are many more innovative uses for pumpkin than just pie. In my opinion, pumpkin literally makes everything more delicious and festive. In addition to it's taste and versatility, it's really healthy too! That can of puree you see at the store has vitamins A, C, K, and fiber. To make it easy, I'm going to use 5 already existing ... [ Read More ]
Power Breakfast: Avocado Toast with Chia Seeds
As you already know, it's important to start off everyday with a balanced and filling breakfast. I have to be honest, I'm not a huge egg fan, so I am always looking to try out alternative breakfast recipes that provide me with lots of protein and energy for my day. A few weeks ago I was starving for breakfast and I saw one of my Facebook friends posted about their avocado toast. I thought that sounded good. I happened to have some avocado and Seeduction bread from Whole Foods so I thought I ... [ Read More ]
Less than $20: A Holiday Dinner for 2 People
Creating a holiday dinner for 2 people (with all the fixings) is not as hard as you might think! Whether you live a long way from family and can't make it home for a holiday or you just don't have a large group to cook for, you should never shy away from creating a hearty meal to celebrate. This year, I couldn't make it home for Rosh Hashanah and I was totally bummed! It is in a tradition in my family to always have a delicious festive meal with chicken, green bean casserole, mashed ... [ Read More ]
ABC’s The Taste: My 2nd (sort-of) Brush with Hollywood
Recently, I thought it would be fun to give auditioning for a cooking show another try. This time, I saw that ABC's The Taste was coming to Chicago and figured why not! I headed over to the "cattle call" like audition with my famous Ancho Chile BBQ Chicken tacos topped with a tangy tropical guacamole and caramelized onions. Basically, I had 3 minutes to plate my dish for the judges and then talk about it with them for a few minutes. Long story short, my confidence shined and I was asked to ... [ Read More ]
Apple Cheddar Biscuits w/ Honey
Happy Rosh Hashanah! For those of you who don't know, I am Jewish and my favorite part of my culture is all the food we get to eat around the holiday time! Tonight, I am cooking a small Rosh Hashanah dinner for my fiancé and I and I wanted to serve something really special to commemorate the new year. As a Jewish tradition, we are supposed to eat apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the hope for a sweet new year! This year, I wanted to honor the tradition while integrating my ... [ Read More ]
Swiss Diamond: Diamonds are a chef’s best friend!
As someone who loves to cook, I’ve tried every pot, pan and cooking utensil on the planet. I thought I used the best of the best, until I had the opportunity to try Swiss Diamond cookware. It all started when a friend of mine, Chloe, invited me over for dinner. She isn’t much of a cook, so she planned on ordering out. When she asked me where we should order from, I told her that we should cook something together instead! She reluctantly agreed and we headed out to buy the ingredients to make ... [ Read More ]
